In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the banned cyclist has already admitted to a career fueled by doping and deceit and all he was required to get his lifetime ban reduced was to tell his story to the anti-doping authorities. But the cyclist decided that he would not do it.

“For several reasons, Lance will not participate in USADA’s efforts to selectively conduct American prosecutions that only demonize selected individuals while failing to address the 95 percent of the sport over which USADA has no jurisdiction,” said Tim Herman, Armstrong’s longtime lawyer. “Lance is willing to cooperate fully and has been very clear: He will be the first man through the door, and once inside will answer every question, at an international tribunal formed to comprehensively address pro cycling.”

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency officials seemed stunned by the decision of Lance Armstrong simply to walk away. “Over the last few weeks, he [Armstrong] has led us to believe that he wanted to come in and assist USADA, but was worried of potential criminal and civil liability if he did so,” said Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. “Today, we learned from the media that Mr. Armstrong is choosing not to come in and be truthful and that he will not take the opportunity to work toward righting his wrongs in sport.”